Chandelier light fixture



Jan. 24, 1967 J. R RAMSEY, JR 3,300,635.

CHANDELIER LIGHT FIXTURE Filed NOV. 23, 1964 INVENTOR JOSEPH R. RAMSEY,

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,300,635 CHANDELIER LIGHT FIXTURE JosephR. Ramsey, .lr., RR. 1, Box 80, Chestertown, Md. 21620 Filed Nov. 23,1964, Ser. No. 413,111 8 flaims. (Cl. 24t)78) The present inventionrelates to an electrical light fixture of the chandelier type, moreparticularly, to such a light fixture which is attached to the ceilingand includes several suspended parts with the electric wiring passingtherethrough and being completely concealed from view.

The usual chandelier light fixture comprises a body member having anumber of lamp elements mounted thereon with the chandelier beingsuspended from the ceiling by a chain. The electric wiring for the lampelements is interwoven through the chain in an effort to conceal thewiring as much as possible. However, this wiring remains visible andhence detracts from the Overall appearance of such light fixtures,particularly when the lamp elements simulate candles or othernon-electric sources of illumination.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to providea novel and improved chandelier light fixture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel andimproved wiring arrangement for a chandelier light fixture.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a chandelierelectric light fixture wherein the several lamps thereon are connectedto a source of electricity through wiring which passes upwardly throughthe chandelier to the ceiling but is concealed from view.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a noveland improved arrangement for securing the ceiling dome onto theuppermost portion of a chandelier light fixture.

The objects of the present invention are achieved by the chandelierlight fixture disclosed herein which comprises a plurality of candlesimulated lamps on the ends of hollow supporting arms extending radiallyoutwardly from a body member. The body member is hollow and has a ringat the top thereof which is also hollow and which communicates with theinterior of the body member. The body member is supported by the ringupon a hook formed in the lower end of a hollow rod-like element, theupper end of which is secured to the ceiling. There are registeringopenings in the hook and the ring so that electric wires can extend fromthe lamps upwardly through the body and ring through the openings andthen upwardly through the rod-like element to an electrical junction boxmouutedin the ceiling. Thus, white the light fixture disclosed herein issuspended by a ring and hook arrangement, the wire is completelyconcealed from view and assists to complete the illusion that the candlesimulated lamps are not electric.

On the uppermost portion of the rod-like element there is slidablymounted a dome-shaped ceiling plate which is positioned against theceiling to conceal the connection between the rodlike element and thejunction box. An arrangement is provided within this ceiling plate forlocking the ceiling plate in position on the rod-like element. Thislocking means is accessible from the eX- terior of the ceiling plate.Thus, when the chandelier lamp fixture has been installed, no indicationremains of how the ceiling plate is secured in position nor is there anyindication of the electric wires leading downwardly through thechandelier to the electric lamps.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentupon reference to the accompanying description when taken in conjunctionwith the following drawings, wherein:

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FIGURE 1 is an over-all perspective view of the chandelier light fixtureof this invention, and looking upwardly from approximately the positionof a person viewing the installed fixture;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the light fixture of FIGURE1, with the body member being shown in vertical section;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the ceiling plate taken alongthe line 33 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the ceiling plate of FIGURE 3 showing thelocking arrangement therein.

Proceeding next to the drawing wherein like reference symbols indicatethe same parts throughout the various views, a specific embodiment ofthis invention will be described in detail.

As may be seen in FIGURE 1, the chandelier light fixture disclosedherein essentially comprises a base 1, from which extend radially aplurality of circumferentially spaced supporting arms 2"having on theirouter ends candle simulated lamps 3. Attached to the top Of the bodymember 1 is a ring 4 which is supported upon a hook 5 formed on thelowermost portion of the rodlike supporting element 6. On the upper endof the rodlike element is a dish-shaped ceiling plate 7 which ispositioned against the ceiling, as shown in the drawing.

The body member 1 is formed of wood, such as walnut, and may be turnedto any desired shape and subsequently finished as desired. The bodymember 1 comprises a removable bottom 8 which encloses a hollow space 9formed within the body member. The space 9 is cylindrical in shape andhas a copper ring 10 lining the peripheral wall thereof. In the copperring 10 are a plurality of openings 11 corresponding to the number ofsupporting arms 2 and registering with the inner ends thereof, as shownin FIGURE 2.

The bottom 3 is removably secured to the body member 1 by a stud bolt 12which is threaded into a channel bracket 13 secured by screws 14 to thetop of the space 9, as may be seen in FIGURE 2. The lower portion of thestud bolt 12 is threaded into a plate 15 which is similarly attached byscrews 16 to the top surface 17 of the bottom 8. The bracket 13 andplate 15 are both made of a relatively soft, flexible material, metal orplastic, to permit alignment and adjustment of the bottom 8 with respectto body member 1.

A peripheral lip 18 is formed on the bottom edge of the body member 1 soas to enclose the top edge of the bottom 3 when it is secured inposition.

Extending upwardly from the chamber 9 is a vertical passage 19 whichcommunicates at the top thereof with a cross passage 20 to form aT-shaped passage within the body member 1.

Extending radially outwardly from the body member 1 are the supportingarms 2 which may be shaped as desired and which are hollow. The innerends 21 of the supporting arms 2 are soldered at 22 to the inner face ofthe copper ring 10. On the outer ends of the supporting arm are mountedelectric lamps of any desired type, such as the candle simulated lamps 3utilized in this embodiment.

The body member 1 is supported by the split ring 4 which has a tubularcross-section. The ends 23 of the ring 4 are pinched into the ends ofthe cross passage 20 when the ring is assembled to the body member. Onthe uppermost portion of the ring 4 on a side surface thereof there isan opening 24 which is for the passage of electric wiring, as will besubsequently described.

The ring 4 is suspended from the hook 5 which is provided with anopening 25 on the inner face thereof and positioned so as to registerwith the ring opening 24 when the ring is on the book 5.

Both the ring 4 and the rod-like supporting element 6 are worked to looklike wrought iron but are hollow. The element 6 may have a circular orsquare cross-section.

A threaded nipple 26 is brazed on the top end of the rod-like supportingelement and is screwed into a threaded opening 27 in a mounting plate 28which is secured by screws 29 to an electrical junction box 30 mountedin the ceiling.

The connection between the rod-like supporting element 6 and theelectrical junction box 30 is concealed by the ceiling plate 7 which islockingly positioned on the upper end of the rod-like supporting element6 by a locking arrangement illustrated in detail in FIGURES 3 and 4.

The dome-shaped ceiling plate 7 has a central aperture 31 through whichthe rod-like element 6 is passed and conforming to the shape of theelement 6. On one side of the aperture 31 an angle iron 32 is brazed tothe inner surface of the ceiling plate and positioned so that a leg 33of the angle iron is closely adjacent to the aperture 31. On the otherside of the aperture 31 diametrically opposed from the angle iron 32there is brazed a second angle iron having an inclined leg 34 whichslopes toward the aperture 31, as may be seen in FIGURE 3. Positionedbelow the inclined plate leg 34 is a cylindrical dowel 35 which ismounted on a substantially U-shaped spring steel wire clip 36, the endsof which are soldered at 37 on the inner surface of the ceiling plate 7.The spring clip 36 exerts a downward force on the dowel 35 to urge thedowel into engagement with the inner surface of the ceiling plate.

Closely adjacent the central aperture 31 and through the other leg ofthe second angle iron is a small threaded opening 38 in which isthreaded a set screw 39 the upper end of which contacts the dowel 35.

The lamps 3 are electrically connected to the junction box 30 byflexible electric wiring 40 which passes from each lamp 3 through itshollow supporting arm 2 into the chamber 9 where it joins the otherwires 40 coming from the individual lamps. This electrical wiring, asindicated at 41, then passes upwardly through the passage 19, acrosspassage 20, into the hollow ring 4, outwardly through the opening 24into the opening 25, and then upwardly through the rod-like element 6 tothe junction box 30. As is evident from FIGURE 1, when the light fixture is assembled with the body member 1 being supported from therod-like element hook by the ring 4, the wiring 41 is concealed fromview since it passes from the ring 4 into the rod-like element 6 throughthe contacting opening 24 and 25. Thus, while the light fixture of thisinvention is suspended from a rigid supporting element, i.e. therod-like element 6, the electric wires are completely concealed fromview when passing through the physical connection between the ring 4 andthe hook 5 After the light fixture has been installed in position, it isthen desired to slide the ceiling plate '7 upwardly on the rod-likeelement 6 into engagement with the ceiling and then lock the ceilingplate in this position. This locking is accomplished by threading theset screw 39 inwardly so as to urge the dowel 35 upwardly into wedgingposition between the inclined plate 34 and the rod-like element 6, suchas is shown in FIGURE 3. The length of the set screw 39 is so selectedthat the outer end of the set screw is flush with the outer surface ofthe ceiling plate when the dowel 35 is wedged upwardly in its lockingposition. The outer surface of the ceiling plate may then be painted andthe set screw will be concealed from the view of a person standing onthe floor below the chandelier.

The entire effect of the set screw and the concealed wiring is toproduce a chandelier type lighting fixture wherein the electricalconnection and mounting members are all concealed from view.Accordingly, such light fixtures can simulate old-fashioned chandelierswhere the illumination is achieved by candle simulated lamps or by lampssimulating other non-electric sources of illumination. Not only are thewiring and ceiling mounting connections completely concealed but theentire fixture rigidly and compactly constructed so as to be quicklyinstalled. Further, the entire light fixture is rugged in constructionalthough graceful in appearance.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible tomodifications in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions,and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications Withinthis invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A chandelier light fixture comprising a hollow body member, aplurality of hollow supporting arms extending outwardly from said bodymember, electric light elements on the outer ends of said supportingarms, a ring having a tubular cross section and an opening thereintoconnected to the upper portion of said body member and communicatingwith the interior thereof, a tubular rodlike element having means on theupper end thereof for securing said rod-like element to a ceiling and ahook on the lower end thereof with said ring being supported on saidhook, an opening in said rod-like element, and flexible electricalconductors extending from said electric light elements through saidsupporting arms, said body member, said ring and the openings thereinand in said rod-like element so as to be concealed from view when saidchandelier light fixture is mounted in position from a ceiling.

2. A chandelier light fixture comprising a hollow body member, aplurality of hollow supporting arms extending outwardly from said bodymember, electric light elements on the outer ends of said supportingarms, a ring having a tubular cross section connected to the upperportion of said body member and communicating with the interior thereof,a tubular rod-like element having means on the upper end thereof forsecuring said element to a ceiling and a hook on the lower end thereofwith said ring being supported on said book, there being a first openingin the inner face of said hook adjacent said ring and a second openingin said ring registering with said first opening, and flexibleelectrical conductors extending from said electric light elementsthrough said supporting arms, said body member, said ring and throughsaid openings into said rodlike element so as to be concealed from viewwhen said chandelier light fixture is mounted in position from aceiling.

3. A chandelier light fixture comprising a hollow body member, aplurality of hollow supporting arms extending outwardly from said bodymember, candle simulated lamps on the outer ends of said arms, a ringhaving a tubular cross section connected to the upper portion of saidbody member and communicating with the interior thereof, a tubularrod-like element having means on the upper end thereof for securing saidrod-like element to a ceiling and a hook on the lower end thereof withsaid ring being supported on said hook, there being a first opening inthe inner face of said hook adjacent said ring and a second opening insaid ring registering with said first opening, and flexible electricalconductors extending from said lamps through said supporting arms, saidbody member, said ring and through said first and second openings intosaid rod-like element so as to be concealed from view when saidchandelier light fixture is mounted in position from a ceiling.

4. A chandelier light fixture comprising a hollow body member, aplurality of hollow supportingarms extending outwardly from said bodymember, electric light elements on the outer ends of said supportingarms, a ring having a tubular cross section connected to the upperportion of said body member and communicating with the interior thereof,a tubular rod-like element having-means on the upper end thereof forsecuring said element to a ceiling and a hook on the lower end thereofwith said ring being supported on said hook, there being a first openingin the inner face of said hook adjacent said ring and a second openingin said ring registering with said first'opening, flexible electricalconductors extending from said electric light elements through saidsupporting arms, said body member, said ring and through said openingsinto said rodlike element so as to be concealed from view when saidchandelier light fixture is mounted in position from a ceiling, aceiling plate on the upper end of said rod-like element and positionableagainst the ceiling, and means on said ceiling plate for locking saidceiling plate in position on said rod-like element.

5. A chandelier light fixture comprising a hollow body member, aplurality of hollow supporting arms extending outwardly from said bodymember, electric light elements on the outer ends of said supportingarms, a ring having a tubular cross section connected to the upperportion of said body member and communicating with the interior thereof,a tubular rod-like element having means on the upper end thereof forsecuring said element to a ceiling and a hook on the lower end thereofwith said ring being supported on said hook, there being a first openingin the inner face of said hook adjacent said ring and a second openingin said ring registering with said first opening, flexible electricalconductors extending from said electric light elements through saidsupporting arms, said body member, said ring and through said openingsinto said rod-like element so as to be concealed from view when saidchandelier light fixture is mounted in position from a ceiling, adome-shaped ceiling plate having a central aperture therein for slidablyreceiving the upper end of said rod-like element with the concave sideof said ceiling plate being positionable against the ceiling, a verticalplate within said ceiling plate adjacent said aperture, and means withinsaid ceiling plate for urgng said rod-like element tightly against saidvertical plate to position said ceiling plate on said rod-like element.

6. A chandelier light fixture comprising a hollow body member, aplurality of hollow supporting arms extending outwardly from said bodymember, electric light elements on the outer ends of said supportingarms, a ring having a tubular cross section connected to the upperportion of said body member and communicating with the interior thereof,a tubular rod-like element having means on the upper end thereof forsecuring said element to a ceiling and a hook on the lower end thereofwith said ring being supported on said hook, there being a first openingin the inner face of said hook adjacent said ring and a second openingin said ring registering with said first opening, flexible electricalconductors extending from said electric light elements through saidsupporting arms, said body member, said ring and through said openingsinto said rod-like element so as to be concealed from view when saidchandelier light fixture is mounted in position from a ceiling, adome-shaped ceiling plate having a central aperture therein for slidablyreceiving the upper end of said rod-like element with the concave sideof said ceiling plate being positionable against the ceiling, a verticalplate within said ceiling plate adjacent said aperture, an inclinedplate within said ceiling plate adjacent said aperture and opposed fromsaid vertical plate, said inclined plate being inclined toward saidaperture, a dowel between said rod-like element and said inclined plate,a spring urging said dowel downwardly against the inner surface of theceiling plate, and means within said ceiling plate for wedging saiddowel between said rod-like element and said inclined plate whereby saidceiling plate is locked in position on said rod-like element.

7. A chandelier light fixture as claimed in claim 6, wherein saidwedging means comprises a set screw in said ceiling plate engageablewith said dowel to wedge said dowel between said rod-like element andsaid inclined plate whereby said ceiling plate is locked in position onsaid rod-like element.

8. An arrangement for positioning an apertured ceiling plate on arod-like element passing therethrough and comprising a dome-shapedceiling plate having a central aperture therein for slidably receivingthe upper end of a rod-like element with the concave side of saidceiling plate being positionable against the ceiling, a vertical platewithin said ceiling plate adjacent said aperture, an inclined platewithin said ceiling plate adjacent said aperture and opposed from saidvertical plate, said inclined plate being inclined toward said aperture,a dowel between said rod-like element and said inclined plate, a springurging said dowel downwardly against the inner surface of the ceilingplate, and a set screw in said ceiling plate engageable with said doweland acting against the force of said spring to wedge said dowel betweensaid rodlike element and said inclined plate whereby said ceiling plateis locked in position on said rod-like element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1911 Harris240-78 8/1931 Werner 24078

1. A CHANDELIER LIGHT FIXTURE COMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF HOLLOW SUPPORTING ARMS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BODY MEMBER, ELECTRIC LIGHT ELEMENTS ON THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID SUPPORTING ARMS, A RING HAVING A TUBULAR CROSS SECTION AND AN OPENING THEREINTO CONNECTED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID BODY MEMBER AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR THEREOF, A TUBULAR RODLIKE ELEMENT HAVING MEANS ON THE UPPER END THEREOF FOR SECURING SAID ROD-LIKE ELEMENT TO A CEILING AND A HOOK ON THE LOWER END THEREOF WITH SAID RING BEING SUPPORTED ON SAID HOOK, AN OPENING IN SAID ROD-LIKE ELEMENT, AND FLEXIBLE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS EXTENDING FROM SAID ELECTRIC LIGHT ELEMENTS THROUGH SAID SUPPORTING ARMS, SAID BODY MEMBER, SAID RING AND THE OPENINGS THEREIN AND IN SAID ROD-LIKE ELEMENT SO AS TO BE CONCEALED FROM VIEW WHEN SAID CHANDELIER LIGHT FIXTURE IS MOUNTED IN POSITION FROM A CEILING. 